Otavalo city
 Otavalo is located two hours north of Quito in
Ecuador's Andean highlands. About 50,000 people reside in the town
from where the famous market took its name. Surrounded by volcanoes,
the market place is in a beautiful setting. People from all over the
world come to see the famous market, where an abundance of handicrafts
can be found.
However, unlike other markets, the handicrafts available
at Otavalo are not commercialized versions of authentic traditional
weaving styles that are found in many other market places. Rather, Otavaleños pride themselves as successful and intelligent business
people who have over the years continued to make a livelihood off
their craft skills.
There are two parts to the Otavalo market, for it
is both tourist and traditional. Otavaleños are responsible for much
of the business carried out in Otavalo. They buy and sell chickens,
pigs, vegetables, parts for their looms, dye, and yarns there. The
sections of the market where food and animals are found are rarely
visited by the tourists though. They tend to stick to the handicrafts
section of the market, or the Poncho Plaza. This is where the majority
of the tourist transactions take place. It developed in the 1960's -
1970's and has proved to be very profitable for successful Otavaleno
entrepreneurs.
 Crafts that can be bought here are numerous- wool
woven sweaters, ponchos, Panama hats (an Ecuadorian creation, despite
it's name), hammocks, woven tapestries that depict scenes from the
Ecuadorian countryside, purses, One unique aspect of the Indigenous
peoples of Otavalo is that although they have very successfully
entered a prosperous money economy, they have continued to maintain
their ethnic identity.
This identity is rich and deep, and many Otavaleños
still speak their Quichua, their native language, and wear their
traditional dress. On top of that, Otavaleños have forged their own
way, not relying on outside development organizations to help them
turn their craft production into an successful economic business. Jewelry, clothing, to name a few. Some of these are
traditional crafts, but others have evolved to fit the wishes of the
tourists. Because of its success and popularity, other artisans from
around Ecuador come to Otavalo to sell their crafts.
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